What do grandparents get up to in 2021?

Many grandparents feel they’re actively doing a good job of changing people’s ideas of what old people like doing

Over half of those polled said they don’t feel that they follow any of the usual grandparent stereotypes (Getty Images)

Forget the rocking chair and slippers, today’s grandparents are more likely to be rocking out to Guns N’ Roses and going to the gym.

A survey of 2,000 grandparents found six in 10 remember the “Swinging 60s,” with many admitting they still try to live their life as they did then.

For the “golden oldies,” weaned on rock throughout the 60s and 70s, age is definitely not mellowing their musical tastes.

Heavy rock acts like Deep Purple, AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses trampled over easy listening and pop acts like Jess Glynne when it came to the most popular artists.

It also emerged more than half believe they don’t follow any grandparent stereotypes, with 45 per cent claiming they have never felt as carefree as they do now.

Verity Kick from Oak Tree Mobility, a mobility furniture company which commissioned the research, said: “Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can’t do certain things

“The phrase ‘40 is the new 30’ has now shifted upwards, as people live longer so in many ways, 60 is the new 30."

The poll also found 60 per cent of grandparents feel they are actively doing a good job of changing people’s perceptions of what ‘old’ people are like.

It seemed almost half don’t believe their grandkids see them as “old,” and three quarters don’t think they are anything like their own grandparents were at the same age.

One man who is living life to its fullest is 84-year-old actor and great-grandfather, Jack Warner.

After getting his first agent at 63, he has gone on to have minor roles in films such as Phantom of the Opera and Wimbledon, as well as appearing in music videos for Robbie Williams, Jamie Cullum and The Hoosiers.

Mr Warner, from Alton in Hampshire, enjoyed acting as a youngster, but after his parents urged him to get a ‘proper job’ he spent 35 years working in the automotive industry before retiring at 60.

He said: “I noticed that a few of my retired friends were happy to sit and take life easy and I thought ‘there’s no way I’m doing that’ so, knowing how much I enjoyed acting, my wife of 63 years encouraged me to speak to an agent. So, I grabbed the bull by the horns.    

“I was amazed how quickly I got a gig and I haven’t looked back. My job has taken me all over the world and to a host of impressive venues that I could only dream of visiting.”

He’s also proud of how savvy he is on social media and cites Facebook and Instagram as his go to platforms. He uses the latter as it’s how the entertainment community engages with each other and he can share his work with his many followers.

Among his favourite pursuits Mr Warner counts indoor skydiving and helicopter rides and he likes to go for regular bike rides and long walks. He also listens to music online, an eclectic mix of heavy metal through to opera.

Mr Warner added: “Age is definitely a mindset, you mustn’t sit down and give in to it. My philosophy is ‘keep young and carry on’ which I intend to do for many more years to come.”

The survey, carried out via OnePoll,  also found that far from being dinosaurs when it comes to technology, social media is widely used by respondents.

Almost three quarters use Facebook, nearly half watch YouTube videos and almost a quarter are on Instagram.

Although several confessed to feeling afraid of getting old when they were younger, many admitted it hasn’t been nearly as bad as they thought it would be.

Verity Kick, from Oak Tree Mobility, added: “Lots of the younger generation are afraid of what it’s like getting older.

“This is partly due to stereotypes around old people, which is what we’re trying to change in the UK and beyond.

“Getting old doesn’t mean you have to stop doing the things you love, listening to music you like or even rocking out at gigs."

SWNS